Desert Hot Springs has added itself to the growing list of valley cities where residents can purchase legal pot next year.

While medical marijuana was already permitted in the city, the city council had not yet expanded its permit process to allow for recreational sales or growing. The council unanimously approved a measure to make those changes at a special meeting Tuesday.

City Attorney Jennifer Mizrahi said the ordinance essentially cleans up the city’s existing cannabis-related regulations.

“For those businesses in good standing with the city that originally had medical marijuana permits can now have recreational marijuana permits,” she said.

The ordinance allows for all municipally permitted medical cannabis businesses–dispensaries as well as cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities–to transition from medical to recreational cannabis or do both starting Jan. 1.

Council member Russell Betts said the city has long been looking towards the possibility of recreational sales. Tuesday's vote was to ensure everyone who has already gone through the permitting process doesn’t have to go through it again as the city’s cannabis businesses prepared for the change in state law after the new year.

Future cannabis businesses can apply for a medical license, a recreational license or both.

Lawrence Bynum, owner of Desert’s Finest dispensary, said the move would keep the city at the forefront of the cannabis industry.

“I highly applaud this action, it’s critical for Desert’s Finest and Desert Hot Springs to stay on the cutting edge,” he said.

He said the city needed to keep up with other cities around it, including neighboring Palm Springs and Cathedral City, which have both expanded their municipal pot laws to allow for recreational sales.

Umberto Bagnara, owner of All About Bud dispensary, said the move would give small local businesses and local cannabis businesses a chance to compete.

“I think that we’re missing the boat with the tourism thing,” he said. “All these little mom and pop places are trying to survive and trying to fight the big guy. Give them a chance.”

While the council’s action answers the question of whether or not residents can purchase recreational marijuana in town, Mayor Scott Matas said the city still needs to address other aspects of the industry, including potential lounges for on-site consumption and permitting for micro-businesses.

Corinne Kennedy covers the west valley for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at Corinne.Kennedy@DesertSun.com or on Twitter @CorinneSKennedy.